Parallel MAC/PHY for enhanced transmission rate in a wireless network

ABSTRACT

An integrated circuit radio transceiver and associated method comprises a multi-mode device operable to support personal area network communications as well as traditional wireless local area network communications. In one embodiment, IEEE 802.11 protocol IBSS communications are used to transport Bluetooth communication data packets. Thus, the multi-mode device is operable to establish traditional BSS communications with an Access Point in addition to establishing peer-to-peer communications with another multi-mode device to transport the Bluetooth communications over the 802.11 IBSS communication link.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This U.S. Application for Patent claims the benefit of the filing dateof U.S. Provisional Patent Application entitled, IBSS/BSS OPERABLE TOSUPPORT SIMULTANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS TO CARRY PERSONAL AREA NETWORKCOMMUNICATIONS, having Ser. No. 60/881,996, filed on Jan. 23, 2007,which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for allpurposes.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to wireless communications and, moreparticularly, to circuitry transmitting communications throughmulti-mode devices.

2. Related Art

Communication systems are known to support wireless and wire linedcommunications between wireless and/or wire lined communication devices.Such communication systems range from national and/or internationalcellular telephone systems to the Internet to point-to-point in-homewireless networks. Each type of communication system is constructed, andhence operates, in accordance with one or more communication standards.For instance, wireless communication systems may operate in accordancewith one or more standards, including, but not limited to, IEEE 802.11,Bluetooth, advanced mobile phone services (AMPS), digital AMPS, globalsystem for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access(CDMA), local multi-point distribution systems (LMDS),multi-channel-multi-point distribution systems (MMDS), and/or variationsthereof.

Depending on the type of wireless communication system, a wirelesscommunication device, such as a cellular telephone, two-way radio,personal digital assistant (PDA), personal computer (PC), laptopcomputer, home entertainment equipment, etc., communicates directly orindirectly with other wireless communication devices. For directcommunications (also known as point-to-point communications), theparticipating wireless communication devices tune their receivers andtransmitters to the same channel or channels (e.g., one of a pluralityof radio frequency (RF) carriers of the wireless communication system)and communicate over that channel(s). For indirect wirelesscommunications, each wireless communication device communicates directlywith an associated base station (e.g., for cellular services) and/or anassociated access point (e.g., for an in-home or in-building wirelessnetwork) via an assigned channel. To complete a communication connectionbetween the wireless communication devices, the associated base stationsand/or associated access points communicate with each other directly,via a system controller, via a public switch telephone network (PSTN),via the Internet, and/or via some other wide area network.

Each wireless communication device includes a built-in radio transceiver(i.e., receiver and transmitter) or is coupled to an associated radiotransceiver (e.g., a station for in-home and/or in-building wirelesscommunication networks, RF modem, etc.). As is known, the transmitterincludes a data modulation stage, one or more intermediate frequencystages, and a power amplifier stage. The data modulation stage convertsraw data into baseband signals in accordance with the particularwireless communication standard. The one or more intermediate frequencystages mix the baseband signals with one or more local oscillations toproduce RF signals. The power amplifier stage amplifies the RF signalsprior to transmission via an antenna.

Typically, the data modulation stage is implemented on a basebandprocessor chip, while the intermediate frequency (IF) stages and poweramplifier stage are implemented on a separate radio processor chip.Historically, radio integrated circuits have been designed usingbi-polar circuitry, allowing for large signal swings and lineartransmitter component behavior. Therefore, many legacy basebandprocessors employ analog interfaces that communicate analog signals toand from the radio processor.

Personal area networks provide advantageous operations and are commonlyused for very short distance communications. On occasion, however, thereis a need to transport communication data from such personal areanetworks over a distance that is not readily supported by the personalarea network. Moreover, a need exists for such communications to besecure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods of operationthat are further described in the following Brief Description of theDrawings, the Detailed Description of the Invention, and the claims.Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of the invention madewith reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiment is consideredwith the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a communication systemthat includes circuit devices and network elements and operation thereofaccording to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a wirelesscommunication host device and an associated radio;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a wirelesscommunication device that includes a host device and an associatedradio;

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate communication networks with communicationdevices according to various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method supporting multi-modecommunications in a wireless multi-mode communication device;

FIG. 7 illustrates various OSI type stack layers of a multi-mode radiotransceiver operable to carry Bluetooth communication under 802.11protocols;

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate timing of a setting of IBSS beacons accordingto one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates a method for multi-mode communications in a wirelesslocal area network communication device;

FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram that illustrates a method andapparatus according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates a method for encrypting a first protocolcommunication link for peer-to-peer communications;

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate arrangements of the first and second protocolpackets, data, and frames according to one embodiment of the invention;and

FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating a method for communication over afirst protocol communication link and for transmitting second protocolcommunications over the first protocol communication link according toone embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a communication systemthat includes circuit devices and network elements and operation thereofaccording to one embodiment of the invention. More specifically, aplurality of network service areas 04, 06 and 08 are a part of a network10. Network 10 includes a plurality of base stations or access points(APs) 12 and 16, a plurality of wireless communication devices 18-32 anda network hardware component 34. The wireless communication devices18-32 may be laptop computers 18 and 26, personal digital assistants 20and 30, personal computers 14 and 32 and/or cellular telephones 22, 24and 28. The details of the wireless communication devices will bedescribed in greater detail with reference to the Figures that follow.

The base stations or APs 12-16 are operably coupled to the networkhardware component 34 via local area network (LAN) connections 36, 38and 40. The network hardware component 34, which may be a router,switch, bridge, modem, system controller, etc., provides a wide areanetwork (WAN) connection 42 for the communication system 10 to anexternal network element such as WAN 44. Each of the base stations oraccess points 12-16 has an associated antenna or antenna array tocommunicate with the wireless communication devices in its area.Typically, the wireless communication devices 18-32 register with theparticular base station or access points 12-16 to receive services fromthe communication system 10. For direct connections (i.e.,point-to-point communications), wireless communication devicescommunicate directly via an allocated channel.

Typically, base stations are used for cellular telephone systems andlike-type systems, while access points are used for in-home orin-building wireless networks. Regardless of the particular type ofcommunication system, each wireless communication device includes abuilt-in radio and/or is coupled to a radio.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a wirelesscommunication host device 18-32 and an associated radio 60. For cellulartelephone hosts, radio 60 is a built-in component. For personal digitalassistants hosts, laptop hosts, and/or personal computer hosts, theradio 60 may be built-in or an externally coupled component.

As illustrated, wireless communication host device 18-32 includes aprocessing module 50, a memory 52, a radio interface 54, an inputinterface 58 and an output interface 56. Processing module 50 and memory52 execute the corresponding instructions that are typically done by thehost device. For example, for a cellular telephone host device,processing module 50 performs the corresponding communication functionsin accordance with a particular cellular telephone standard.

Radio interface 54 allows data to be received from and sent to radio 60.For data received from radio 60 (e.g., inbound data), radio interface 54provides the data to processing module 50 for further processing and/orrouting to output interface 56. Output interface 56 providesconnectivity to an output device such as a display, monitor, speakers,etc., such that the received data may be displayed. Radio interface 54also provides data from processing module 50 to radio 60. Processingmodule 50 may receive the outbound data from an input device such as akeyboard, keypad, microphone, etc., via input interface 58 or generatethe data itself. For data received via input interface 58, processingmodule 50 may perform a corresponding host function on the data and/orroute it to radio 60 via radio interface 54.

Radio 60 includes a host interface 62, a digital receiver processingmodule 64, an analog-to-digital converter 66, a filtering/gain module68, a down-conversion module 70, a low noise amplifier 72, a receiverfilter module 71, a transmitter/receiver (Tx/Rx) switch module 73, alocal oscillation module 74, a memory 75, a digital transmitterprocessing module 76, a digital-to-analog converter 78, a filtering/gainmodule 80, an up-conversion module 82, a power amplifier 84, atransmitter filter module 85, and an antenna 86 operatively coupled asshown. The antenna 86 is shared by the transmit and receive paths asregulated by the Tx/Rx switch module 73. The antenna implementation willdepend on the particular standard to which the wireless communicationdevice is compliant.

Digital receiver processing module 64 and digital transmitter processingmodule 76, in combination with operational instructions stored in memory75, execute digital receiver functions and digital transmitterfunctions, respectively. The digital receiver functions include, but arenot limited to, demodulation, constellation demapping, decoding, and/ordescrambling. The digital transmitter functions include, but are notlimited to, scrambling, encoding, constellation mapping, and modulation.Digital receiver and transmitter processing modules 64 and 76,respectively, may be implemented using a shared processing device,individual processing devices, or a plurality of processing devices.Such a processing device may be a microprocessor, micro-controller,digital signal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, fieldprogrammable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logiccircuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device thatmanipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on operationalinstructions.

Memory 75 may be a single memory device or a plurality of memorydevices. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, random accessmemory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamicmemory, flash memory, and/or any device that stores digital information.Note that when digital receiver processing module 64 and/or digitaltransmitter processing module 76 implements one or more of its functionsvia a state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logiccircuitry, the memory storing the corresponding operational instructionsis embedded with the circuitry comprising the state machine, analogcircuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry. Memory 75 stores,and digital receiver processing module 64 and/or digital transmitterprocessing module 76 executes, operational instructions corresponding toat least some of the functions illustrated herein.

In operation, radio 60 receives outbound data 94 from wirelesscommunication host device 18-32 via host interface 62. Host interface 62routes outbound data 94 to digital transmitter processing module 76,which processes outbound data 94 in accordance with a particularwireless communication standard or protocol (e.g., IEEE 802.11(a), IEEE802.11b, Bluetooth, etc.) to produce digital transmission formatted data96. Digital transmission formatted data 96 will be a digital basebandsignal or a digital low IF signal, where the low IF typically will be inthe frequency range of one hundred kilohertz to a few megahertz.

Digital-to-analog converter 78 converts digital transmission formatteddata 96 from the digital domain to the analog domain. Filtering/gainmodule 80 filters and/or adjusts the gain of the analog baseband signalprior to providing it to up-conversion module 82. Up-conversion module82 directly converts the analog baseband signal, or low IF signal, intoan RF signal based on a transmitter local oscillation 83 provided bylocal oscillation module 74. Power amplifier 84 amplifies the RF signalto produce an outbound RF signal 98, which is filtered by transmitterfilter module 85. The antenna 86 transmits outbound RF signal 98 to atargeted device such as a base station, an access point and/or anotherwireless communication device.

Radio 60 also receives an inbound RF signal 88 via antenna 86, which wastransmitted by a base station, an access point, or another wirelesscommunication device. The antenna 86 provides inbound RF signal 88 toreceiver filter module 71 via Tx/Rx switch module 73, where Rx filtermodule 71 bandpass filters inbound RF signal 88. The Rx filter module 71provides the filtered RF signal to low noise amplifier 72, whichamplifies inbound RF signal 88 to produce an amplified inbound RFsignal. Low noise amplifier 72 provides the amplified inbound RF signalto down-conversion module 70, which directly converts the amplifiedinbound RF signal into an inbound low IF signal or baseband signal basedon a receiver local oscillation 81 provided by local oscillation module74. Down-conversion module 70 provides the inbound low IF signal orbaseband signal to filtering/gain module 68. Filtering/gain module 68may be implemented in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention to filter and/or attenuate the inbound low IF signal or theinbound baseband signal to produce a filtered inbound signal.

Analog-to-digital converter 66 converts the filtered inbound signal fromthe analog domain to the digital domain to produce digital receptionformatted data 90. Digital receiver processing module 64 decodes,descrambles, demaps, and/or demodulates digital reception formatted data90 to recapture inbound data 92 in accordance with the particularwireless communication standard being implemented by radio 60. Hostinterface 62 provides the recaptured inbound data 92 to the wirelesscommunication host device 18-32 via radio interface 54.

As one of average skill in the art will appreciate, the wirelesscommunication device of FIG. 2 may be implemented using one or moreintegrated circuits. For example, the host device may be implemented ona first integrated circuit, while digital receiver processing module 64,digital transmitter processing module 76 and memory 75 may beimplemented on a second integrated circuit, and the remaining componentsof radio 60, less antenna 86, may be implemented on a third integratedcircuit. As an alternate example, radio 60 may be implemented on asingle integrated circuit. As yet another example, processing module 50of the host device and digital receiver processing module 64 and digitaltransmitter processing module 76 may be a common processing deviceimplemented on a single integrated circuit.

Memory 52 and memory 75 may be implemented on a single integratedcircuit and/or on the same integrated circuit as the common processingmodules of processing module 50, digital receiver processing module 64,and digital transmitter processing module 76. As will be described, itis important that accurate oscillation signals are provided to mixersand conversion modules. A source of oscillation error is noise coupledinto oscillation circuitry through integrated circuitry biasingcircuitry. One embodiment of the present invention reduces the noise byproviding a selectable pole low pass filter in current mirror devicesformed within the one or more integrated circuits.

Local oscillation module 74 includes circuitry for adjusting an outputfrequency of a local oscillation signal provided therefrom. Localoscillation module 74 receives a frequency correction input that it usesto adjust an output local oscillation signal to produce a frequencycorrected local oscillation signal output. While local oscillationmodule 74, up-conversion module 82 and down-conversion module 70 areimplemented to perform direct conversion between baseband and RF, it isunderstood that the principles herein may also be applied readily tosystems that implement an intermediate frequency conversion step at alow intermediate frequency.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a wirelesscommunication device that includes the host device 18-32 and anassociated radio 60. For cellular telephone hosts, the radio 60 is abuilt-in component. For personal digital assistants hosts, laptop hosts,and/or personal computer hosts, the radio 60 may be built-in or anexternally coupled component.

As illustrated, the host device 18-32 includes a processing module 50,memory 52, radio interface 54, input interface 58 and output interface56. The processing module 50 and memory 52 execute the correspondinginstructions that are typically done by the host device. For example,for a cellular telephone host device, the processing module 50 performsthe corresponding communication functions in accordance with aparticular cellular telephone standard.

The radio interface 54 allows data to be received from and sent to theradio 60. For data received from the radio 60 (e.g., inbound data), theradio interface 54 provides the data to the processing module 50 forfurther processing and/or routing to the output interface 56. The outputinterface 56 provides connectivity to an output display device such as adisplay, monitor, speakers, etc., such that the received data may bedisplayed. The radio interface 54 also provides data from the processingmodule 50 to the radio 60. The processing module 50 may receive theoutbound data from an input device such as a keyboard, keypad,microphone, etc., via the input interface 58 or generate the dataitself. For data received via the input interface 58, the processingmodule 50 may perform a corresponding host function on the data and/orroute it to the radio 60 via the radio interface 54.

Radio 60 includes a host interface 62, a baseband processing module 100,memory 65, a plurality of radio frequency (RF) transmitters 106-110, atransmit/receive (T/R) module 114, a plurality of antennas 81-85, aplurality of RF receivers 118-120, and a local oscillation module 74.The baseband processing module 100, in combination with operationalinstructions stored in memory 65, executes digital receiver functionsand digital transmitter functions, respectively. The digital receiverfunctions include, but are not limited to, digital intermediatefrequency to baseband conversion, demodulation, constellation demapping,decoding, de-interleaving, fast Fourier transform, cyclic prefixremoval, space and time decoding, and/or descrambling. The digitaltransmitter functions include, but are not limited to, scrambling,encoding, interleaving, constellation mapping, modulation, inverse fastFourier transform, cyclic prefix addition, space and time encoding, anddigital baseband to IF conversion. The baseband processing module 100may be implemented using one or more processing devices. Such aprocessing device may be a microprocessor, micro-controller, digitalsignal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, fieldprogrammable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logiccircuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device thatmanipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on operationalinstructions. The memory 65 may be a single memory device or a pluralityof memory devices. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory,random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, staticmemory, dynamic memory, flash memory, and/or any device that storesdigital information. Note that when the baseband processing module 100implements one or more of its functions via a state machine, analogcircuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memory storingthe corresponding operational instructions is embedded with thecircuitry comprising the state machine, analog circuitry, digitalcircuitry, and/or logic circuitry.

In operation, the radio 60 receives outbound data 94 from the hostdevice via the host interface 62. The baseband processing module 100receives the outbound data 94 and, based on a mode selection signal 102,produces one or more outbound symbol streams 104. The mode selectionsignal 102 will indicate a particular mode of operation that iscompliant with one or more specific modes of the various IEEE 802.11standards. For example, the mode selection signal 102 may indicate afrequency band of 2.4 GHz, a channel bandwidth of 20 or 22 MHz and amaximum bit rate of 54 megabits-per-second. In this general category,the mode selection signal will further indicate a particular rateranging from 1 megabit-per-second to 54 megabits-per-second. Inaddition, the mode selection signal will indicate a particular type ofmodulation, which includes, but is not limited to, Barker CodeModulation, BPSK, QPSK, CCK, 16 QAM and/or 64 QAM. The mode selectionsignal 102 may also include a code rate, a number of coded bits persubcarrier (NBPSC), coded bits per OFDM symbol (NCBPS), and/or data bitsper OFDM symbol (NDBPS). The mode selection signal 102 may also indicatea particular channelization for the corresponding mode that provides achannel number and corresponding center frequency. The mode selectionsignal 102 may further indicate a power spectral density mask value anda number of antennas to be initially used for a MIMO communication.

The baseband processing module 100, based on the mode selection signal102 produces one or more outbound symbol streams 104 from the outbounddata 94. For example, if the mode selection signal 102 indicates that asingle transmit antenna is being utilized for the particular mode thathas been selected, the baseband processing module 100 will produce asingle outbound symbol stream 104. Alternatively, if the mode selectionsignal 102 indicates 2, 3 or 4 antennas, the baseband processing module100 will produce 2, 3 or 4 outbound symbol streams 104 from the outbounddata 94.

Depending on the number of outbound symbol streams 104 produced by thebaseband processing module 100, a corresponding number of the RFtransmitters 106-110 will be enabled to convert the outbound symbolstreams 104 into outbound RF signals 112. In general, each of the RFtransmitters 106-110 includes a digital filter and upsampling module, adigital-to-analog conversion module, an analog filter module, afrequency up conversion module, a power amplifier, and a radio frequencybandpass filter. The RF transmitters 106-110 provide the outbound RFsignals 112 to the transmit/receive module 114, which provides eachoutbound RF signal to a corresponding antenna 81-85.

When the radio 60 is in the receive mode, the transmit/receive module114 receives one or more inbound RF signals 116 via the antennas 81-85and provides them to one or more RF receivers 118-122. The RF receiver118-122 converts the inbound RF signals 116 into a corresponding numberof inbound symbol streams 124. The number of inbound symbol streams 124will correspond to the particular mode in which the data was received.The baseband processing module 100 converts the inbound symbol streams124 into inbound data 92, which is provided to the host device 18-32 viathe host interface 62.

As one of average skill in the art will appreciate, the wirelesscommunication device of FIG. 3 may be implemented using one or moreintegrated circuits. For example, the host device may be implemented ona first integrated circuit, the baseband processing module 100 andmemory 65 may be implemented on a second integrated circuit, and theremaining components of the radio 60, less the antennas 81-85, may beimplemented on a third integrated circuit. As an alternate example, theradio 60 may be implemented on a single integrated circuit. As yetanother example, the processing module 50 of the host device and thebaseband processing module 100 may be a common processing deviceimplemented on a single integrated circuit. Further, the memory 52 andmemory 65 may be implemented on a single integrated circuit and/or onthe same integrated circuit as the common processing modules ofprocessing module 50 and the baseband processing module 100.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a communication networkaccording to one embodiment of the present invention. A communicationnetwork 150 includes an access point 154 operable to generate beacons tocontrol wireless local area network communications with compatiblecommunication devices in a hub-and-spoke configuration of a firstcommunication network that operates according to a first communicationnetwork protocol. In the described embodiment, the communicationscontrolled by access point 150 are BSS communications as defined by IEEE802.11 communications protocols. Network 150 further includes a firstmulti-mode communication device 158 operable to support communicationswith the access point 154 according to the first communication networkprotocol and further operable to concurrently support peer-to-peercommunications with other multi-mode communication devices such asdevice 162.

Second multi-mode communication device 162 is operable to supportcommunications with the access point 154 according to the firstcommunication network protocol and is further operable to concurrentlysupport peer-to-peer communications with other multi-mode communicationdevices such as device 162. The peer-to-peer communications may be IEEE802.11 IBSS communications as well as Bluetooth Master/Slavecommunications.

The first and second multi-mode communication devices 158 and 162 arethus operable to communicate in a peer-to-peer configuration with eachother while also supporting communications with the access point. Morespecifically, the first and second multi-mode communication devices 158and 162 are operable to communicate over the peer-to-peer network usingthe first communication network protocol (the IBSS communications) andare further operable to carry communications of a second communicationnetwork communication (Bluetooth) using the peer-to-peer configurationusing the first communication network protocol.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a communication networkaccording to one embodiment of the invention. A multi-mode communicationdevice 204 is operable to communication with access point 154 and withdevice 208. Device 204 includes a first communication logic 212 operableto support communications with an access point according to a firstcommunication network protocol (802.11 in the described embodiment).Device 204 further includes a second communication logic 216 operable tosupport peer-to-peer communications with other multi-mode communicationdevices according to the first communication network protocol at thesame time the first communication logic operably supports communicationswith the access point 154. First and second multi-mode communicationdevices 204 and 208 are further operable to communicate in apeer-to-peer configuration with each other while also supportingcommunications with the access point.

The multi-mode communication device 204 further included a thirdcommunication logic 220 operable to support peer-to-peer communicationswith other multi-mode communication devices according to a secondcommunication protocol (Bluetooth in the described embodiment) while atleast one of the first and second communication logics are operable tosupport their respective communications.

The second communication protocol, namely Bluetooth, is a known personalarea network protocol. Whether the second protocol is Bluetooth oranother personal area network communication protocol, the protocol is apeer-to-peer communication protocol. For Bluetooth protocolcommunications, the first and second communication logics are operableto support master-slave communications according to the secondcommunication protocol by transporting communication signals of thesecond communication protocol.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method supporting multi-modecommunications in a wireless multi-mode communication device.Specifically, the method includes establishing a first communicationlink with an access point according to a first communication protocolfor wireless local area networks (step 250). The method further includesestablishing a second communication link with a remote communicationdevice wherein the second communication link is a peer-to-peercommunication link according to the first communication protocol (step254). Finally, the method includes establishing a third communicationlink for carrying second communication protocol data intended for apersonal area network device according to the second communicationprotocol (step 258). The third communication link is a peer-to-peercommunication according to the second communication protocol. The firstcommunication link is a BSS communication link as defined by 802.11standard communication protocol standards. The second communication linkis an IBSS communication link as defined by 802.11 standardcommunication protocol standards. The communication device performingthe method of FIG. 6 is thus operable to carry communications from thethird communication link according to the second communication protocolon the second communication link according to the first communicationprotocol.

FIG. 7 illustrates various OSI type stack layers of a multi-mode radiotransceiver operable to carry Bluetooth communication under 802.11protocols according to one embodiment. As may be seen, a Bluetooth corelayer includes an L2CAP module, and an AMP Manager. The HCI layerincludes a Bluetooth HCI that further includes a Link Management moduleand a Bluetooth 2.4 GHz radio. The AMP HCI includes an AMP HCI, and802.11 HCI, PAL, MAC and PHY. In the described embodiment, the AMPManager and AMP HCI blocks are similar to proposed blocks for ultra-wideband. The 802.11 PAL and HCI blocks are modified to supportcorresponding embodiments and operations described herein. The 802.11MAC/PHY are unchanged from current 802.11 specifications in thedescribed embodiment.

FIGS. 8 and 9 jointly illustrate timing of the setting of IBSS beaconsaccording to one embodiment of the invention. Specifically, a terminalthat determines to operate as a “master” of a peer-to-peer IBSScommunication link, advances its TSF timer to prevent transmissionsettings from being reset by other multi-mode devices. In IBSSoperation, all stations send a beacon during a contention window. Eachstation receiving a beacon updates its TSF with the received time stampif the received value is greater than the current (stored) value. Thus,the “master” is the device that generates incremented timestamp valuesfor its beacon to prompt the remaining stations to operate as slaves(not transmit new beacons and add parameters of beacon from master). Thenew parameters include the new TSF value.

The first and second multi-mode communication devices are thus operableto communicate in a peer-to-peer configuration using the firstcommunication network protocol including operating according to protocolfor a TSF Timer while also communicating with the access point using thefirst communication network protocol. Specifically, each of the firstand second multi-mode communication devices is operable to determinethat it should act as a master of the peer-to-peer configuration and,based upon determining to act as a master, to advance a value of its TSFTimer. The first and second multi-mode communication devices are furtheroperable to send a beacon on a periodic basis based upon the advancedTSF timer value and to compare a time stamp value in a received beaconand to compare the received time stamp value to its TSF timer value. Thefirst and second multi-mode communication devices determine to not sendout a beacon based upon the comparison of the time stamp value in areceived beacon and to its TSF timer value if the time stamp value isgreater than its TSF timer value. Alternatively, the first and secondmulti-mode communication devices are operable to determine to send out abeacon based upon the comparison of the time stamp value in a receivedbeacon and to its TSF timer value if the time stamp value is less thanits TSF timer value.

FIG. 10 is a method for multi-mode communications in a wireless localarea network communication device. The method comprises establishing afirst communication link with an access point according to a firstcommunication protocol for wireless local area networks (step 400),establishing a second communication link with a remote communicationdevice according to a second communication protocol for personal areanetworks (step 404), establishing a third communication link forcarrying second communication protocol data intended for a personal areanetwork device according to the first communication protocol (step 408)and advancing a TSF timer value to operate as a master of the thirdcommunication (step 412).

The third communication is a peer-to-peer communication according to thefirst communication protocol. In one embodiment, the third communicationis an IBSS communication link as defined by 802.11 standardcommunication protocol standards.

One aspect of establishing an IBSS communication link according to IEEE802.11 is to secure the communication link that will call the personalarea communication data. FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram thatillustrates a method and apparatus according to one embodiment of theinvention. A communication network 450 includes multi-mode device 454and 458 that are operable to provide secure communications according tothe embodiments of the invention. Each device has a communication logic462 that supports the modes of communication described herein. A logic466 is operable to engage in a simple pairing procedure to establish akey. A logic 470 is operable to encrypt the communications using the keyof logic 466.

Thus, a method for encrypting a first protocol communication link(802.11 or WiMedia in two of the embodiments of the invention) forpeer-to-peer communications is shown in FIG. 12. The method comprisesengaging in second communication protocol pairing exchange process(Bluetooth in one embodiment) to generate a first link key for secondprotocol communications (Bluetooth in one embodiment) over an encryptedlink according to the second communication protocol. The method furtherincludes engaging in second communication protocol pairing exchange(Bluetooth) over an encrypted link according to the second communicationprotocol to generate a second link key for first protocol communications(802.11 IBSS or WiMedia communications) and subsequently creating anencrypted first protocol communications based on the second link key.

The second link key is thus generated using the same algorithm as thefirst link key with a different input. In the described embodiment, aspecified input is used to generate the first and second link keys andfurther. In one embodiment, the specified input is four characterstring. The specified input that is used for generating the first linkkey is different (different numerical value) than the specified inputused for generating the second link key. The four character string isone that is extracted from information in a second protocolcommunication.

Alternatively, the specified input is a medium access control (MAC)address. In yet another embodiment, the specified input is combinationof a medium access control (MAC) address and a four character stringwherein the values of the MAC address and the four character string thatare used for generating the first link key are different from the valuesused for generating the second link key.

In yet another alternate embodiment, the second link key is generatedusing the same algorithm as the first link key with the same input.Further, the keys that are generated for the first protocol and thesecond protocol are of different lengths. The first key is a 128 bit keywhile the second key is a 256 bit key. In one embodiment, the samealgorithm is used to generate the first and second keys with differentinputs. Thereafter, the 128 most significant bits of first generated keyare used as the first key.

One aspect of the embodiments of the present invention include engagingin second protocol pairing exchange to generate a first link key forsecond protocol communications includes generating an encryptedcommunication link using a public key of receiver wherein receiverdecrypts using its own private key.

A method for encrypting a first protocol communication link includesengaging in second communication protocol pairing exchange process overan encrypted link according to the second communication protocol togenerate a link key for second protocol communications (Bluetooth in oneembodiment) and link key for first protocol communications and creatingencrypted first protocol communications (802.11 IBSS or WiMedia) basedon the second link key. In the described embodiment, the first protocolis a protocol communication wherein the encryption is provided for aplurality of communication channels.

The embodiments of the invention also include an apparatus forencrypting a first protocol communication link and for transmittingsecond protocol communications over the first protocol communicationlink. The apparatus includes circuitry for engaging in secondcommunication protocol pairing exchange process over an encrypted linkaccording to the second communication protocol to generate a link keyfor second protocol communications (Bluetooth) and link key for firstprotocol communications (802.11 or WiMedia). The apparatus furtherincludes circuitry for creating encrypted first protocol communications(802.11 IBSS or WiMedia) based on the second link key. The encryption,in one embodiment, is provided for a plurality of communication channelstransmitted according to I.E.E.E. 802.11(n) communication protocolstandards.

The apparatus thus supports the at least one of I.E.E.E. I.B.S.S.protocol communications (802.11 based communications) and WiMedia andBluetooth communications. More specifically, the apparatus supportsusing a Bluetooth simple pairing exchange to generate link keys forBluetooth communications as well as link keys for the first protocolcommunications regardless of whether the first protocol is an 802.11communication or WiMedia communication.

One aspect of the embodiments of the present invention is that thedifferent protocol communications generate packets of different sizes.Thus, a packet of a first size is required to be transmitted accordingto a protocol that defines a different packet size. Moreover, thedifferent protocols farther have different packet format and headerrequirements. An apparatus is thus provided according to one embodimentof the invention for encapsulating second protocol data packets fortransmissions over a first protocol communication link. The apparatusincludes circuitry operable to break a second communication protocoldata packet into a plurality of fragments. FIGS. 13 and 14 illustratearrangements of the first and second protocol packets, data, and framesaccording to one embodiment of the invention. Specifically, thisincludes breaking a much larger Bluetooth packet into a plurality offragments for encapsulation and transmission in packets sized, formattedand transmitted according to 802.11 protocol definitions andrequirements. The MSDU data (contents) includes a source address, adestination address, routing information, data, priority rating (forcontention resolution), and service class (acknowledge or noacknowledge).

The circuitry is therefore operable to generate a plurality of firstprotocol packets in one embodiment of the invention that each contains afragment number, a common second protocol packet ID and a secondprotocol channel ID. In the described embodiment, the common secondprotocol is Bluetooth. The first protocol is I.E.E.E. 802.11. In oneparticular embodiment, an 802.11(n) protocol communication is utilizedwherein the second communication protocol data packet is transmittedover a plurality of signal streams.

More generally, however, the first protocol is one of an I.E.E.E.I.B.S.S. protocol communications and WiMedia. By using the peer-to-peerIBSS transmission modes of 802.11, along with the encapsulationtechniques of the embodiments of the present invention, the apparatus isoperable to encapsulate master-save communications according to thesecond communication protocol and to transmit the encapsulatedcommunications through a peer-to-peer configuration using the firstcommunication network protocol.

The fragment of the second protocol communication packet (Bluetooth inthe described example) is encapsulated in a frame body portion of a datapacket formed according to the first communication protocol. The firstprotocol may be any one of I.E.E.E. 802.11 or 802.16 or 802.20.Alternatively, the first protocol may be WiMedia.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating a method for communication over afirst protocol communication link and for transmitting second protocolcommunications over the first protocol communication link according toone embodiment of the invention. The method comprises breaking a secondcommunication protocol data packet into a plurality of fragments (step600) and generating a plurality of first protocol packets, wherein eachfirst protocol packet contains a fragment number (step 604), a commonsecond protocol packet ID (step 608) and a second protocol channel ID(step 612).

The method includes first protocol is I.E.E.E. 802.11(n) protocolcommunications wherein the second communication protocol data packet istransmitted over a plurality of communication channels according to thefirst communication protocol. More generally, though, the methodincludes, in one embodiment, utilizing a first protocol that is one ofan I.E.E.E. I.B.S.S. protocol communications, including I.E.E.E. 802.11or 802.16 or 802.20, and WiMedia and a second protocol that isBluetooth.

Along these lines, the method includes encapsulating master-savecommunications according to the second communication protocol andtransmitting the encapsulated communications through a peer-to-peerconfiguration using the first communication network protocol. Thefragment is encapsulated in a frame body portion of a data packet formedaccording to the first communication protocol.

Generally, an apparatus is provided for encapsulating and transmittingsecond protocol communications over a first protocol communication link.The apparatus includes circuitry operable to break a secondcommunication protocol data packet into a plurality of fragments and togenerate a plurality of first protocol packets containing a fragmentnumber and a common second protocol packet ID and, in the first of theplurality of first protocol packets, a second protocol channel ID. Thefirst protocol packets further including an indication of a length ofthe second protocol data packet, a first protocol packet ID and allfragments of the second protocol data packet within a frame body.

As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, the term“substantially” or “approximately”, as may be used herein, provides anindustry-accepted tolerance to its corresponding term and/or relativitybetween items. Such an industry-accepted tolerance ranges from less thanone percent to twenty percent and corresponds to, but is not limited to,component values, integrated circuit process variations, temperaturevariations, rise and fall times, and/or thermal noise. Such relativitybetween items ranges from a difference of a few percent to magnitudedifferences. As one of ordinary skill in the art will furtherappreciate, the term “operably coupled”, as may be used herein, includesdirect coupling and indirect coupling via another component, element,circuit, or module where, for indirect coupling, the interveningcomponent, element, circuit, or module does not modify the informationof a signal but may adjust its current level, voltage level, and/orpower level. As one of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate,inferred coupling (i.e., where one element is coupled to another elementby inference) includes direct and indirect coupling between two elementsin the same manner as “operably coupled”.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by wayof example in the drawings and detailed description. It should beunderstood, however, that the drawings and detailed description theretoare not intended to limit the invention to the particular formdisclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover allmodifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spiritand scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. As may beseen, the described embodiments may be modified in many different wayswithout departing from the scope or teachings of the invention.

1. A communication network, comprising: an access point operable togenerate beacons to control wireless local area network communicationswith compatible communication devices in a hub-and-spoke configurationof a first communication network that operates according to a firstcommunication network protocol; a first multi-mode communication deviceoperable to support communications with the access point according tothe first communication network protocol and further operable toconcurrently support peer-to-peer communications with other multi-modecommunication devices; a second multi-mode communication device operableto support communications with the access point according to the firstcommunication network protocol and further operable to concurrentlysupport peer-to-peer communications with other multi-mode communicationdevices; and wherein the first and second multi-mode communicationdevices are further operable to communicate in a peer-to-peerconfiguration with each other while also supporting communications withthe access point.
 2. The communication network of claim 1 wherein thefirst and second multi-mode communication devices are operable tocommunicate over the peer-to-peer network using the first communicationnetwork protocol.
 3. The communication network of claim 1 wherein thefirst and second multi-mode communication devices are operable to carrycommunications of a second communication network communication using thepeer-to-peer configuration using the first communication networkprotocol.
 4. The communication network of claim 1 wherein the first andsecond multi-mode communication devices are operable to engage in 802.11protocol BSS communications while engaging in 802.11 protocol IBSScommunications.
 5. The communication network of claim 1 wherein thefirst and second multi-mode communication devices are operable tosupport master-slave communications of a second communication networkthat operates according to a second communication network protocol whilecommunicating with the access point according to the first communicationnetwork protocol.
 6. The communication network of claim 1 wherein thefirst and second multi-mode communication devices are operable determinewhich of the first and second multi-mode communication devices willoperably control communications in the peer-to-peer communicationnetwork operating according to the first communication protocol.
 7. Amulti-mode communication device, comprising: first communication logicoperable to support communications with an access point according to afirst communication network protocol; second communication logicoperable to support peer-to-peer communications with other multi-modecommunication devices according to the first communication networkprotocol at the same time the first communication logic operablysupports communications with the access point; and wherein the first andsecond multi-mode communication devices are further operable tocommunicate in a peer-to-peer configuration with each other while alsosupporting communications with the access point.
 8. The multi-modecommunication device of claim 7 further including third communicationlogic operable to support peer-to-peer communications with othermulti-mode communication devices while at least one of the first andsecond communication logics are operable to support their respectivecommunications.
 9. The multi-mode communication device of claim 7wherein the third communication logic is operable to support thepeer-to-peer communications using a second communication protocol. 10.The multi-mode communication device of claim 9 wherein the firstcommunication protocol is a standardized wireless local area networkprotocol.
 11. The multi-mode communication device of claim 10 whereinthe second communication protocol is a known personal area networkprotocol.
 12. The multi-mode communication device of claim 9 wherein thethird communication logic is operable to carry communications of asecond communication network communication using the peer-to-peerconfiguration using the second communication protocol.
 13. Themulti-mode communication device of claim 7 wherein the first and secondcommunication logics are operable to engage in 802.11 protocol BSScommunications while engaging in 802.11 protocol IBSS communications.14. The multi-mode communication device of claim 7 wherein the first andsecond communication logics are operable to support master-slavecommunications according to the second communication protocol.
 15. Themulti-mode communication device of claim 7 wherein the communicationlogic is operable to determine whether to control communications in thepeer-to-peer communication network operating according to the firstcommunication protocol.
 16. A method supporting multi-modecommunications in a wireless multi-mode communication device,comprising: establishing a first communication link with an access pointaccording to a first communication protocol for wireless local areanetworks; establishing a second communication link with a remotecommunication device wherein the second communication link is apeer-to-peer communication link according to the first communicationprotocol; establishing a third communication link for carrying secondcommunication protocol data intended for a personal area network deviceaccording to the second communication protocol.
 17. The method of claim16 wherein the third communication link is a peer-to-peer communicationaccording to the second communication protocol.
 18. The method of claim16 wherein the first communication link is a BSS communication link asdefined by 802.11 standard communication protocol standards.
 19. Themethod of claim 16 wherein the second communication link is an IBSScommunication link as defined by 802.11 standard communication protocolstandards.
 20. The method of claim 16 wherein the communication deviceis operable to carry communications from the third communication linkaccording to the second communication protocol on the secondcommunication link according to the first communication protocol.